Wafer bending/orientation characterization and their effects on fluid lubrication during chemical mechanical polishing

A novel in-situ wafer bending/orientation measurement system, cooperated with our previous developed fluid pressure mapping system, was developed for 12-inch chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) equipment. Wafer bending and wafer orientation are studied for copper wafer sliding against the IC1000 pad. The results reveal a micron level wafer bending, and a slight wafer pitch angle of 10(-5) degree. Both the wafer pitch angle and interfacial fluid pressure increase with the speed till a critical speed and then decrease. The convergent-dominated wedged gap caused by the convexly bended, trailing edge pitched wafer gives a reasonable explanation to the positive-dominated fluid pressure. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.